Thomas g



(No Model.)

' G. TURNER.

ELECTRIC CABLE. N0. 806.037.

Patented Sept. 30, 18 84.

N PETERS. PhDlO-Lllhngmpher. Wnshmglnn. DV 1:.

\MTN ESEEEZ UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEQ -THOMAS G. TURNER, OF NEWV YdRK,N.,Y.

ELECTRIC CABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,037, datedSeptember 30, 1884.

Application filed February 29, 188-1.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. TURNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Electric Cables;and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of elec tric cables in which theconductors are laid concentrically around a core, and inclosed in aprotecting sheath or armor.

The objects of the invention are, first, to so construct the armor thatit may be opened at any point without rupture of the metal of which itis composed to afford access to any one or more of the conductors of thecable, and again closed and sealed; second, to so arrange the individualwires or conductors of the cable with relation to an indicator and toeach other that any one of said conductors maybe readily found; third,to so arrange the conductors and indicator with relation to the joint orseam of the armor that the indicator and each of said conductors willpass said seam once in a given distance; fourth, to establish contactbetween the core and armor to lessen the effect of induced current;also, to provide a core which will yield slightly upon the contractionof the surrounding conductors; also,

to provide means by which the interstices between the conductors may befilledrwith a material which will repel moisture, and, finally, minorobjects relating to the laying or use of a cable, which objects willmore fully appear hereinafter.

The invention consistsin certain novel parts and combinations, whichwill be claimed in the clauses at the close of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective v-view of myimproved cable. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partlyin section, of thepreferred form of core. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the cable incross-section.

The core A of my cable is a tube or pipe of lead, having, preferably,numerous perforations, (1, in its walls for the double purpose ofrendering the core more sensitive to lateral pressure, and of affordingmeans by which hot paraffine or other equivalent substance may (Nomodel.)

2 be forced into the interstices between the respective conductorssurrounding the core.

- Around this core A is grouped a number of independent insulatedconductors, B, one of the conductors, B, differing from the others ofthe group, so that it may be readily distinguished and serve as a guideor indicator, so that any one of the conductors of the group may beknown from the position it bears ductors B and B having been laidclosely about the core A, I apply a binder or binders b, to hold them ina fixed position with relation to each other during the application ofthe armor O. The binder or binders b may be of insulating material-suchas kerite tapeor of non-insulating material, as is found mostconvenient; or, as it is desirable to place the core Ain metalliccontact with the armor C, I contemplate in some instances forming thebinders of short strips of lead, one end of which is placed between anytwo of the conductors B and in contact with the core, while the free endof the strip is wrapped around the grouped conductors so that the armor,when applied, will bein contact with it. These lead binders can bequickly and cheaply applied at suitable intervals during theconstruction of the cable. In the event of using other than the leadbinders the indicator-conductor B may be one having a metallic armor,while the conductors B may be provided with any ordinary insulationwithout armor, it being understood, of course, that in this instance thebinder be so disposed as to permit the inclicator B to come in contactwith the armor 0, thus establishing contact between said armor and thecore A. The armor-O is composed of a ribbon of lead of such width thatwhen the ribbon is folded around the grouped wires or conductors asurplus of metal will be left at the meeting edges, which surplus isbent out to form the radial projections c. A key, D, of soft metal orsolder, is interposed between thcse projections, and melted to unitethem and form a tight joint. This key should be made of a metal orcomposition fusible at a comparatively low temperature, in order that itmaybe melted without affecting the lead. armor, as it will he sometimesnecessary to open the seam formed by the key and projections 0, toconnect branch-wires, or for other purposes, and again close said seamwhen the connection has been made.

I prefer to lay the conductors spirally upon the core with a pitch of,say, one turn in three feet, as by this means I am enabled to bring eachwire of the group across the seam of the armor in a given distance, sothat upon opening the seam all the wires will be exposed to view, andthe required one selected (its position with relation to the indicatorbeing known) and the branch connection made.

It will be seen that the cable herein described is very simple and canbe cheaply coir structed.

It is my purpose to construct the cable at the trench or ditch as it isrequired; and which may be briefly described as consisting of a platformprovided at its front end with standards between which is mounted a drumcarrying the core. Near this drum, and be tween it and the rear of theplatform, is a re volving head having a central aperture to permit ofthe passage of the core, and provided on its rear face with bracketsadapted to support spools on which the respective conductors are wound.Another drum carrying the lead ribbon which is to form the armor is arranged in rear of and preferably below the revolving head, and at ashort distance from this drum is a guide having an aperture for thepassage of the core carrying its group of conductors, and anotheraperture so formed as to fold the lead ribbon around the groupedconductors and bend the surplus metal out to form the radial projectionsc. The key I) may be laid between these projections by hand or bysuitable guides as the folded armor leaves the folding-die, and a nozzleis arranged to direct a blast of heat upon the key to fuse it. Feedingrolls and guides should be provided at suitable points, and therevolving head should be connected by gears or band and pulleys with thedrum carrying the core, in order that the speed at which said headrevolves be proportioned to the weight at which the core is fed. Thelead binders can be quickly and cheaply applied by hand as theconductors are laid upon the core. 'When the conductors upon any one ofspools becomes exhausted, its end is spliced to the end of the conductorof a new spool, and. the empty spool .removed from itss1ippciting-brackets and replaced by the new one without stopping themachine.

As the conductors can be spliced at any point during the construction ofthe cable, I i

avoid the necessity ol'splieing two sections of eable fwhich is alwaysnecessary in laying long lines of shop-made cable,) and also avoid anypossible injury to the armoror insulating coatings of the conductorsresulting from the coiling and uncoiling of shop-made sections.

As I intend filing a separate application or applications covering themechanism for constructing this cable, a full description of thismechanism is here deemed unnecessary.

\V hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a cable, the combination of the flexible core, a group ofinsulated conductors surrounding said core, (one of which is anindieator,) and an armor having a longitudinal seam, substantially asset forth.

2'. In a cable, the combination of the flexible core, aspirally'disposcd group of insulated conductors surrounding said core,one of which is an indicator,) and an armor having a longitudinal seam,substantially as set forth.

8. In a cable, the combination of the perforated tubular core,a group ofinsulated conductors surrounding said core, an armor inclosing saidcomluctors, and metallic binders arranged at intervals and connectingthe core with the armor, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cable, the combination of the tnbular core, a spirally-disposedgroup of insulated conductors surrounding said core, (one of which is anindicator,) and an armor consisting of a ribbon of metal folded aroundsaid conductors and having its longitudinal edges united by solder,substantially as set forth.

5. In a cable, the C(Hl'lbllltlidOll of the tnbnlar core, aspirally-disposed group of in sulated conductors surroumling said core,(one of which is an indicator) and an armor consisting of a ribbon ofmetal folded around the conductors,and having the on t'wardly-proiectingsurplus of metal at its edges united by solder interposed between them,substantially as set forth.

6. The improvement in the art of forming continuous cables whichconsists in :teeding a group of insulated conductors, (one of which isan indicator,) each from a separate spool spirally upon a core splicingthe individual conductors as the respective spools become ex hausted,folding a ribbon of metal longitudinally npon the conductors as they arelaid upon the core, and uniting the meeting edges of the ribbon bysolder to form a longitudinal seam, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\Vitnesses:

(7. A. News, W, M. TIAXNAY.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No 306,037, grantedSeptember 30, 1884 to Thomas G. Turner, of New York, New York, for animprovement in Electric Gables, errors appear in the printedspecification requiring correction, as follows: At the end of line 22,page 2, the words, for this purpose I have devised a portable machine,should be inserted, and in line 51, same page, the word weight shouldread rate and that the Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein to make it conform to the record of the ease in thePatent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 14th day of October, A. D. 1884.

[SEAL] M. L. J OSLYN Acting Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned R.G. DYRENFORTH,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 306,037, grantedSeptember 30, 1884,

to Thomas G. Turner, of New York, New York, for an improvement inElectric Cables, errors appear in the printed specification requiringcorrection, as follows: At

the end of line 22, page 2, the words, for this purpose I have devised aportable machine, should be inserted, and in line 51, same page, theword weight should read rate; and that the Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein to make it conform to the record of thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 14th day of October, A. D. 1884.

[SEAL.] M. L. JOSLYN,

' Acting Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned R. G. DYRENFORTH,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

